Chris's story shows us that freedom comes at a cost. In his case, because he wanted to go against the law, he decided to become a tramp. This led to him driving around with an expired driver's lisince, cauing him to have to leave a car that he liked a lot. Alos, because he burnt his identification, when he was caught by the border police, he had to go to jail. Everything that happens comes at a cost, and it is important to evaluate these costs before just doing anything.


This novel teaches the readers to be prepared for situations before getting too involved with them. Even though Chris thought about his excursion for a long time, he was not ready for it. For example, the only food Chris carried with him when he started his adventure was a ten- pound bag of rice. In addition, he carried a .22 caliber rifle, which would not be useful when shooting larger game. Also, a road map from a gas station was the only navigational aid he possessed. If Chris was more prepared for his journey, then he may have survived longer in the wild.